Hydraulic valve gauge



June 23, 1953 J. F. SUMA HYDRAULIC VALVE GAUGE Filed April 11. 1951 lln V 4 \s I Vow/HE Patented June 23, 1953 OFFICE HYDRAULIC ALVE GAUGE James F. Suma, Chicago, .Ill Application April 11 1951; Serial No. 220,395 '5 I This invention relates to an improvement in a gauge for facilitating correct adjustmentor setting of valves in internal combustion engines, The gauge is a tool for indicating the extent of variance from a predetermined. normal standard, of the distance'between a valve stem and its actuating cam lobe. I

The objects of the invention are to provide a rugged and simple gauge which may be successfully used by the average automobile engine mechanic, and which will be strong and durable so as to be capable of withstanding rough handling, such as is freduentlyaccorded to tools employed about an internal combustion engine during repair or, reconditioning thereof; to provide a gauge 1 of the character indicated which will be easily readable and which will clearly indicate the nature of correction if any is required; to provide such a gauge which may be used on engines of various makes wherein the standard or normal distances between the valve stem and its actu--- ating cam lobe differ substantially; and in general, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved gauge of the character indicated.

and illustrating certain details of the gauge struc-V ture; a I

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively,sections on the lines 22 and of Fig. 1.

The gauge structure herein referred to is 'designed for indicating what correction, if any, is required to locate the end I of a valve stem 2 atthe proper distance from the heel 30f theactuating cam i for that particular valve. The cam t represents one of a series of similar cams on a cam shaft 5 of any internal combustion engine,

and the valve stem 2 represents the stem of any of the exhaust or intake valves of an ordinary internal combustion engine, the valve stem 2 being herein shown as being guided in a bushing 6 seated in the engine block I, The valve spring which normally effects seating of the valve is usually (but not necessarily) removed during the use of the gauge and such spring is therefore not shown. The space between the end I of the valve stem and the heel 3 of the earn 4 normally receives a' hydraulic valve lifting device which'is initially solaims, (01. 33-181) v 2 manufactured to operate most eificiently when the distance between the cam heel 3 and the end of the valve stem l is a predetermined distance within a small tolerance. If this distance is toosmall'the valve will not satisfactorily close or seat, and if the distance is too great the valve" will not open its full extentland noisy-operation will be caused. Hydraulic valve lifters now used on several L-head type engines are non-adjust-- able and this makes it all the more important that the distance between the valve stem and cam be made to'c0rrectly'receive the lifter.

The gauge structure hereinshown comprises a tubular 'body or housing 9 which has one end open andits other end provided with an end closure wall it which is provided with a true flat outer facel i for seating on the cam i. A plunger I2 is slidably fitted in said tubular housing and is provided at its outer or upper end with an end flange or head 13 which has a true flat outer face It for engaging the end I of the valve stem.

A suitable spring, 15 is interposedbetween the inner end of the plunger [2 and the end wall it of thehousing to'resiliently urge the plunger of the socket l8 and the-adjacent or inner end of the plunger l'l so as to'normally urge said in-" dicator'pin If to move outwardly of the plunger I2. The indicator pin I1 and the socket I8 may conveniently be of cylindrical cross sectionand thepin H is provided with'a wedge shaped or chisel pointed projecting end portion 25, the edge of which extends transversely of the. length of the'gauge for registrationwithindicator markings or scale graduations 2| or22 provided. on the 45 outside of the tubular housing adjacent the sides of the slot it near its opposite ends.

In-this instance, two sets of graduations 2i and 22' are'shown, one set beingso located as to as to cooperate with said indicator ll when-the gauge is used with a different make of engine.

Other'setsof graduations'may, -of c0urse,'be provided andthe-s1ot [6 may," be lengthenedyif' de-;

pro-,

3 sired, to accommodate other sets of graduations in other required positions.

The pointer portion 20 of the indicator I1 is of reduced width relative to the diameter of the base portion of the indicator so that shoulders -23 are formed on the indicator for engagement with portions of the housing 9 adjacent the opposite sides of the slot [6 as shown in Fig. 2. This prevents the indicator pin I1 from being lost from thegauge. v

By providing'the socket l8 of suificient depth to permit the indicator tobe pressed back into the socket against the pressure of the spring l9, it is possible to assemble the plunger i2 and housing 9 by initially holding the indicator l1 in fully depressed position to permit its :outer or pointer end 20 to pass by :the upper portion of the housing wall until the pin can e'n'terthe slot It. In some instances, instead of a .pointed indicator end portion, said end portion may be provided with 'a flat end .faceand a .--gauge'mark scribed across such'endface .for registration with the gauge marks 2| or :22. In either event, the indicator pin is prevented from rotating so as to maintain its indicating end of mark in the proper alignment with the direction "of the indicator marks 2| by providingthe,projecting end portion 20 f the ,pin with flat sides .lfo r eng-ageindicated purpose, it is graspedeabout its hous- 7 ing 9 and the'end 14 of 'the plunger l2 isengaged with the end of the valvestem whereupon the housing orrbod-y -9 is moved upwardly and rocked inwardly. until .-its end wall H can be seated on the earn 4. The spring l-t5-is then :permitted to expand the ;-gauge to-a -sn-ug fit between the valve stem 'end 1| and the cam=4 whereupon the position of the'in'dicator portion 20 with refer-- be indicated by an ofiset relation 'between-the-end of the indicator portion and :suchcentral or normal gauge mark. 'The scale marks ion-either side of such normal :m'ark may be so positioned as to indicate the extenti'of correction required in one hundredths-of an inchandian experienced mechanic can accurately judge --Whether *the change required is inione-thousandths-rof an.inch;

It is not considered vpracticable to provide the graduations ill or :22 in one *thousandths of an inch inasmuch as such fine graduations would normally require -the employment of -.a .magnifying glass {or reading and in any event, would be very difficulttoapply in a formwhich would be durable enough for the purposesiof a tool of the'kind hereincontemplated. Howevengradua tions in one hundredths of an :inchare practicable and afford :a satisfactory indication-70f the spacing of ,theval ve stem end from-thezcam,

Various changes .in the described structure may be made while retaining the principles thereof.

I claim:

1. A gauge for checking the distance between a cam lobe and a valve stem in an internal combustion engine, comprising an elongated tubular housing having a uniform bore therein, said housing being fully open at one end and having an end wall at its other end, an elongated plunger slidably seated in said housing and projecting from the openend thereof, a spring means in said housing intermediate said end wall and the adjacent end of said plunger for yieldably urging said plunger outwardly of said housing, said gauge being insertable between a cam lobe and valve stem with said plunger moved inwardly of .said housing against the pressure of said spring, the latter serving to urge expansion of the ov er-all length of the gauge into a snug fit between the cam lobe and valve stem, said housing being provided intermediate its ends withan elongated slot and said plungerhaving an indicator projecting laterally therefrom into said slot and movable lengthwise in said slot as 7 an incident to the movementvof said plunger in said housing, said indicator serving to prevent the withdrawal of said plunger from saidhous ing, and a scale on the surface of said housing adjacent said slot forcooperation with said indi bustion ngine, comprising an elongated tubular housing having a uniform bore therein, said housing being fully open at one end and havingan end wall at its other end, an elongated plunger slidably seated in said housing and projecting from the open end thereof, a spring means in said housing intermediate said end wall and the adjacent'end of said plunger for yieldably urging said plunger outwardly of said housing, said gaug being insertable between a cam lobe and valve stem with said plunger moved inwardly of said housing against the pressure of said spring, the latter serving to urge expansion of the overall length of the gauge into a snug fit between the cam lobe and valve stem,said housing being provided intermediate its ends with an elongated slot andsaid plunger having an indicator projecting laterally therefrom into said slot andmovable lengthwise in said slot as an incident to the movement of said plunger in said housing,

said indicator having a base portion removably seated in a recess in the plunger, means for retaining said base portion within said recess with part of said indicator extending outwardly from .the recess and into said slot, said indicator serving to prevent the withdrawal of said plunger from said housing when said indicator projectsinto said slot, and a scale on the surfa'ceof said housing adjacentsaid slot for cooperationwith,

bustion engine, comprising an elongated tubularv housing open at one endand having anend wall, at its otherend, an velongatedlplunger slidably.

fitted in said'housing and projecting therefrom;

aspringmeans in said housing intermediate said endwallandthe adjacent end of said plunger for yieldably urging said plunger outwardly of said,

housing, said gauge being insertable between a cam lobe and valve stem with said plunger moved inwardly of said housing against the pressure oi said spring, the latter serving to urge expansion of the over-all length of the gauge into a snug fit between the cam lobe and valve stem, said housing being provided intermediate its ends with an elongated slot and said plunger having an indicator projecting laterally therefrom into said slot and movable lengthwise in said slot as an incident to the movement of saidplunger in said housing, a scale on the surface of said housing adjacent said slot for cooperation with said indicator to indicate the extent of variance of the distance between said cam lobe and valve stem from a predetermined distance, said indicator having a base portion slidably seated in a recess in the plunger, a spring interposed between the bottom of said recess and the adjacent end of the indicator for urging the indicator to move outwardly from the recess, the base portion having transversely of said slot va dimension which is greater than the Width of said slot and being provided with shoulders engaging the inside of said housing adjacent the opposite sides of said slot so as to be thereby retained in the plunger against the tendency of said spring to displace the indicator from said plunger, said indicator serving to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said housing and said recess being deep enough to permit said indicator to be pressed into the lunger to initially permit assembly of the plunger and housing substantially as described.

JAMES F. SUMA.

References Cited in the file of this patent Weeks June 28, 1949 

